Fern plant named ‘Regina’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Fern plant named ‘Regina’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant habit; relatively compact growth habit; rapid growth rate; durable rachis; numerous pinnae per frond that are dark green, glossy and curly; and closely-spaced pinnae.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Fernplant, botanically known as Nephrolepis exaltata, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Regina.

The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor in Malaga, Spain, as anaturally-occurring somaclonal variant in a population oftissue-cultured plants of an unnamed selection of Nephrolepis exaltata.

Since 1988, asexual reproduction by tissue culture of the new cultivarat Malaga, Spain, has shown that the unique features of this new Fernare stable and retained through more than 100 successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Fern has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and fertilizer regime,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Apopka, Fla.,under conditions generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of Regina. These characteristics incombination distinguish Regina as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and outwardly arching plant habit; symmetrical, rounded anduniform; plants roughly spherical.

2. Relatively compact growth habit.

3. Rapid growth rate.

4. Appropriate for smaller containers and hanging baskets.

5. Durable rachis; plants resist breakage during shipping.

6. Numerous pinnae per frond that are dark green, glossy, curly withfinely crenate margins.

7. Closely-spaced pinnae; densely foliated.

The new fern is most similar to its parent cultivar, the unnamedselection of Nephrolepis exaltata. However in side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Apopka, Fla., the new Fern differs from the unnamedselection of Nephrolepis exaltata in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Fern are more compact, more symmetrical and uniformin plant habit than plants of the unnamed selection of Nephrolepisexaltata.

2. Rachis are shorter, stronger and more durable on plants of the newFern compared to plants of the unnamed selection of Nephrolepisexaltata.

3. Pinnae are smaller, darker green and curlier on plants of the newFern compared to plants of the unnamed selection of Nephrolepisexaltata.

4. Pinnae are more numerous and more closely-spaced on plants of the newFern than on plants of the unnamed selection of Nephrolepis exaltatawhich give a more densely foliated appearance to the new Fern.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to attain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuessighted in the detailed botanical description which more accuratelydescribe the actual colors of the new Fern. The photograph on the firstsheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical hanging basketplant of ‘Regina’.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a side perspective view ofa typical hanging basket of ‘Regina’ (top) compared to a comparablehanging basket of the unnamed selection of Nephrolepis exaltata(bottom).

The photograph on the third sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalfronds of the unnamed selection of Nephrolepis exaltata (left) and‘Regina’ (right). Pinnae and rachis colors in the photographs may appeardifferent from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical five-month old plants grown inApopka, Fla., in 20-cm hanging basket containers under apolypropylene-covered shade house that provided a 75 percent lightreduction with day temperatures of about 15 to 27° C and nighttemperatures of about 10 to 15° C.

Botanical classification: Nephrolepis exaltata cultivar Regina.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring somaclonal variant of an unnamedselection of Nephrolepis exaltata, not patented.

Propagation: By tissue culture; stolon and rhizome development has notbeen observed.

Rooting time:

Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days.

Time to develop roots.—About 28 to 42 days.

Plant description:

Plant shape.—Roughly spherical; rounded and uniform.

Growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching; symmetrical; relativelycompact; appropriate for smaller pots, 10 to 15-cm, and up to 20-cmhanging baskets.

Plant height.—About 43 cm from soil line to top of the plant plane.

Plant width.—About 81 cm.

Overall plant vigor.—Moderate.

Growth rate.—Rapid.

Crop time.—About 5 months are required to produce a finished 20-cmhanging baskets.

Frond description.—Leaf arrangement: One-pinnate. Front length: About 39cm. Frond width: About 6.8 cm. Rachis diameter: About 1 mm. Rachiscolor: Brown, close to 166A.

Pinnae description.—Shape: Linear. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About1.1 cm. Quantity of pinnae: Numerous, about 102 per frond. Margin:Finely crenate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate, asymmetrical. Aspect:Undulate along axis. Attachment: Sessile. Texture: Glabrous and glossy.Color: Immature, upper surface: Darker than 146A to 147A. Immature,lower surface: Darker than 146A to 147A. Mature, upper surface: Close to147A. Mature, lower surface: 147A. Venation pattern: Pinnate.

Spores.—None observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Nephrolepisexaltata has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Fern plant named‘Regina’, as illustrated and described.